WEC 6 Hours Of Spa Review - Jota Takes A Surprise Win After Two Hour Red Flag
May 15, 2024
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A surprise win for Jota Sport at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa after a two-hour red flag; Discussion on clock reset controversy and Ferrari's protest; Alpine bridging gap to top teams; Manthey's LMGT3 class victory; Analysis on race decisions, penalties, and performance in endurance racing
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Quick takeaways
Jota Sport's historic win showcases success of Porsche's customer-focused approach in WEC races.
Will Stevens' performance highlights consistency and reliability contributing to Jota's victories.
Red flag restart in WEC race sparks strategic reshuffling and transparency concerns in steward decisions.
Deep dives
Privateer Victory at World Endurance Championship Race
Jota Porsche achieves landmark historic win as a privateer in the World Endurance Championship race. The victory showcases the success of Porsche's customer-focused approach with the 963 program, following a tradition of privateer victories in endurance racing.
Will Stevens' Consistent Success with Jota Team
Will Stevens' consistent success with the Jota team is highlighted, winning races across different seasons and championships. Stevens' role within the team has become more prominent, contributing to their victories and highlighting his reliability and performance.
Dramatic Race Restart and Unpredictable Results
A dramatic race restart and red flag decision led to a reshuffling of positions and unpredictable results in the World Endurance Championship race. The extended race duration necessitated key strategic decisions and raised questions about the stewards' transparency and decision-making process.
LMGTE Competition at Le Mans and Potential Favorites
With the LMGT3 category making its debut at Le Mans, competition is expected to be fierce among manufacturers like Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and Audi. The battle for LMGT3 supremacy remains open, with various teams showing strong performance and preparing for a challenging 24-hour race.
Multiple Contenders in LMGT3 with Varied Performance
The LMGT3 category at Le Mans features multiple contenders with diverse performances, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive race. Teams like TF Sport and Ferrari are poised to continue their success, while newcomers and seasoned competitors gear up for a thrilling fight for victory.
It was a surprise win for the Porsche customers Jota Sport as they took victory in the World Endurance Championship's Six Hours of Spa... depending on your definition of the term "Six Hours"! With Earl Bamber having a huge wreck on the Kemmel Straight with just under two hours to go, a lengthy red flag was needed to fix the armcoe barrier, and with it, the stewards took the discretion to reset the clock back to the time of the Red Flag. But was this ultimately the "right" move?
Joining Kevin Turner on the Autosport Podcast is Gary Watkins and James Newbold as they break down why the clock was reset, why Ferrari lodged a formal protest against the result, as well as where all their cars sit performance wise with Le Mans just around the corner. There's also discussion on Alpine as they bridge the gap to the sport's "Big Three" of Porsche, Toyota and Ferrari, and the LMGT3 class, where Manthey took the class victory after the Iron Lynx Lamborghini's had to stop for fuel in the closing stages.